Fall Color Is Starting to Shine in Upper Peninsula, Says AAA

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 19 -- Michigan's annual fall color show is beginning to shine across the far western and northern Upper Peninsula. The peak is expected in late September, reports AAA Michigan.

AAA's weekly survey of state parks and regional visitor's bureaus shows a tinge of color in most areas of the U.P. Naturalists at F.J. McClain Lake State Park in Calumet report that red and purple hues are 15-25 percent developed there. Newberry observers report color development at 25 percent, with vibrant reds and yellows. In the Ontonagon area, as well as Crystal Falls, Ishpeming and Manistique, color development is up slightly from last week (15-20 percent developed). Due to drought conditions across much of the U.P., many leaves are falling without changing color.

Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace report color development at 10 percent. In the Northern Lower Peninsula, color is just beginning to appear.

Fall color watchers looking for the best viewing opportunities can call Travel Michigan at (888) 78-GREAT (784-7328) for color updates provided by AAA Michigan each Wednesday through October. Updates also will be posted at AAA.com (enter ZIP code, click ABOUT AAA tab), or visit www.michigan.org.